Isla Isabela

Isla San Cristobal

Isla Santa Cruz

To Recycle or Reuse?

Although the Galapagos are known mostly for their unique natural ecosystems, they are also home to thousands of human beings. This unique situation brings with it a balancing act, between the needs of the natural environment and the people who also inhabit the islands. The situation on the islands regarding bottles and cans is a microcosm of a larger question regarding what should be brought to the islands, and who is ultimately responsible for it.

In order for food and other goods to reach the islands they must be shipped in from the mainland, in a journey of hundreds of miles. Bottles and cans of soft drinks, purified water and beer make up a sizeable portion of many of these shipments. Because of the limited space on the islands for waste management, this is a concern for the municipal government, the Galapagos national park, and all those involved in conservation activities on the islands.

Currently, it is illegal to ship bottles to Santa Cruz which cannot be re-used. Up until recently this was also the case on San Cristobal island. Under the law, only bottles which could be returned to the mainland, refilled and reused are allowed. The intent of the law is to decrease the amount of plastic and glass which must be recycled on the islands, and hold distributors responsible for the transport of bottles to and from the islands.

Unfortunately, the lack of regulation on San Cristobal and Isabela has rendered the law largely ineffective on Santa Cruz. According to the director of the Fabricio Valverde Recycling Center on Santa Cruz, Xavier Salazar, individuals are shipping the bottles and cans to Santa Cruz from Isabela and San Cristobal to get around the regulations. This practice has lead to an increase in the number of bottles on Santa Cruz, which must be processed and shipped back to the mainland.

In order to protect the Galapagos, it is important to maintain restrictions on what can and cannot be brought to the islands. The restrictions on non re-usable bottles was an excellent example of legislation in action to protect the islands. Unfortunately, there is more money to be made by distributors if single use containers are allowed, which may ultimately have been the reason the law was repealed on San Cristobal, and remains off the books on Isabela.

Isla San Cristobal

The waste management center serving Isla San Cristobal is located 4 kilometers outside of the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, in the temperate highland region. The 7 acre center consists of sections for plastic and glass, cardboard, metal, trash and organic waste. Plastic and glass bottles are separated, packaged and shipped back to the mainland for processing. Some bottles are ground, shipped back as pellets and sold for use in the production of goods such as benches and new containers.

All of the recycling for San Cristobal is done at this, by a crew of only 13 individuals. Mounds of glass, heaps of plastic containers, cans, cardboard and piles of scrap metal dot the jungle landscape. All sorting is done by hand, which is a very labor intensive endeavor. Recently a glass and plastic grinding machine, similar to the machine on Santa Cruz was introduced. Before the establishment of the recycling center on San Cristobal, all waste on the island was transported to an open landfill on the far north-east side of the island. In addition to the operation of the new facility, the staff is slowly processing the decades worth of waste from the old landfill, and disposing of it properly.

In addition to their other sections, the center also includes a large open air organic compost area. All organic waste is separated out, and dumped in this area in order to be naturally broken down into compost. The piles are rotated and turned, using a combination of manual labor and mechanization in the form of a small bull dozer. After 6 months, the compost is considered completed. The finished product is sold by the center for a price of $12.00 US for 48 kilograms of compost. The proceeds from these sales are used as a sources of funding for the continued operation and growth of the recycling program on San Cristobal.

In addition to selling the compost for profit, it is also used at the recycling center to encourage the growth of endemic plant species. The employees have begun a program aimed at eradicating invasive plant species and replacing them with endemic ones. This is largely a labor of love, and a daunting task in such a large, overgrown area.

A newer initiative of the recycling program has to do with the by products of transportation and industry on the island. Used oil and gas are now being packaged and shipped back to the mainland for reprocessing. Prior to this, used petroleum products were simply dumped in the landfill along with all other garbage. Although this project is relatively new, the impact is already being felt on the island, notably in the reduced risk of groundwater contamination.

Santa Cruz: The Booming Metropolis

The largest and most comprehensive waste management center in the Galápagos is appropriately on the most populated island – Santa Cruz. The Fabricio Valverde Environmental Park is located in the highlands outside of Puerto Ayora, the main city of Isla Santa Cruz. The waste management center was set up by the Fundación Galápagos Ecuador, with funding from donors such as the municipal government, international corporations, and NGO’s such as the World Wildlife Fund. It represents a cooperative effort between the government, the national park and the Fundación Galápagos Ecuador.

This waste management center is unique in the sense that each worker (there are 9 in total) has their own specific piece of recycling to take care of. For instance, one worker is assigned plastic bottles, another is assigned glass bottles, while another worker will pull together all of the cardboard boxes. This type of structure enables efficiency and a straightforward approach to processing all of the waste that comes through the center. In addition to the waste processing stations, the environmental park includes a comprehensive learning station for students and visitors.

Different types of waste are handled in different ways. Paper and cardboard are compacted and then shipped back to mainland Ecuador for recycling. The system of paper and cardboard recycling is comprehensive and begins at each home on the island, where residents have been educated in the separation of paper and cardboard. Plastic materials are also separated and then ground up at the recycling center. The plastic materials are fed into a machine where they are heated and broken down depending on the fineness that is requested. The final ranges from very small pellets to coarser, irregular pieces of plastic. The ground plastic is sent back to the mainland and used for distribution in a variety of different products, such as park benches and stuffed animals.

On site there is also a glass grinding machine. In the same set-up as the plastic grinding machine, the glass particles can come out very fine or larger, depending on what is desired. The glass is not sent back to the mainland however, but is rather mixed with cement and then turned into paving stones. The paving stones are then sold to the municipality, and the profits in turn act as a source of funding for the recycling center. As the glass never leaves the island, the energy costs associated with transporting materials to and from the islands are saved.

In addition to these main recycling areas, there is a composting facility on site for organic waste. The waste is compiled and left out in a field to decompose and return to the ground. A specially designed metal drum is used to speed up the process, as high humidity and heat inside the drum hastens the decomposition of organic waste. Less land is devoted to composting because of the machine, freeing up more land for other uses.

The Fabricio Valverde Environmental Park is a significant step in the right direction, relative to the waste management system it replaced. Previously, all of the un-separated waste from Santa Cruz was dumped, into a landfill outside of Puerto Ayora. The system also continues to grow: from 2000 to 2005, the total amount of material recycled increased by around 1200% (Fundacion Galapagos).

The current system is also much more comprehensive, and has a smaller impact on the fragile island ecosystem. Given the resources available on Santa Cruz, the amount of recycling going on is remarkable. For example, although the GDP of the residents of Santa Cruz is less than one fifth that of the United States, the rate of recycling is nearly identical. With a rate of around 30% of all waste being recycled, the island of Santa Cruz is comparable to more developed nations such as those of Northern Europe and North America (BBC News). Although still relatively new, and a work in progress, Santa Cruz presents a framework for the other islands to follow in waste management techniques and operations, and a precedent for the world at large.

Isabela: The Frontier Island

Located at the western edge of the Galapagos, Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago. Due in large part to its inaccessibility, it is also the least populated of the three major islands, with most of the 2,200 residents living in the settlement of Puerto Villamil.

Despite the relative isolation and low population, development has come to Isabela in recent years. The harbor is often filled with pleasure boats, and there are numerous hotels lining the white sandy beaches. Construction has also penetrated inland, with homes and hotels clustered along the edges of mangrove swamp and fields of volcanic basalt.

Unlike Santa Cruz and San Cristobal, Isabela does not have a comprehensive waste management plan. Historically, all of the islands waste has been dumped in a landfill located a few kilometers from Puerto Villamil. The unsanitary conditions of the landfill have bred rats, which in turn threaten endemic birds, and the iconic land tortoise.

Recently, a cooperative effort between the municipal government of Isabela and the national park has begun development and implementation of a more comprehensive waste management plan. This new plan has four stated goals: to figure out where to put the waste, to begin recycling, to save the fragile ecosystem of the island, and to protect the scarce groundwater resources.

Alam Romero of the municipal government has been spearheading the effort, which began with separation of the waste currently in the landfill. Six individuals have divided the accumulated waste into glass, plastic, cardboard, metals, organics and garbage. The second phase of the plan is to establish a new, sanitary landfill twelve kilometers from Puerto Villamil. “El Mango,” as it is known, will be located on 10 acres, and will be a great improvement on the current location.

As an environmental engineer, Romero was also a driving force in the design of the new facility. El Mango will include both recycling and trash sequestration efforts, with care taken to avoid negative impacts on the environment. Trash will be placed in large piles, which will subsequently be covered in soil and reseeded with endemic plants. Underneath these piles will be layers of impermeable plastic, and a natural filtration system of volcanic rocks to protect the groundwater from contamination.

The work on Isabela island is of great importance, as it is the last of the three major islands to begin work on a waste management program. Quick action is needed in order to preserve one of the most unique, and most vulnerable, ecosystems on the planet. Human impact on Isabela may be less than on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal, but it still exists. With more development on the way, it is important that Isabela begin to make strides towards more efficient and ecological handling of human generated waste.

Composting

Hey - I did some research into composting and here's something that MIT did back in 2004 that addresses composting in regards to agricultural waste. Not exactly what we're looking for, but it's a start. I think we may have looked at this site before...
http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2008/teams/lastortugas/v_agriculture.html

Metropolitan Touring Corporate Fact Sheet

Below is a summary of the sustainable efforts by the Metropolitan Touring Company. It is quoted text from a corporate fact sheet sent to us by contact Francisco Dousdebes. It includes information in the group's efforts in the creation of the recycling center on Santa Cruz

A Brief History of ETICA - Metropolitan Touring

ETICA - Metropolitan Touring strives at delivering extraordinary experiences for its guests. In doing so, we use valuable non-renewable resources requiring conscientious usage by applying prevention and action. This guarantees a minimal environmental footprint of the operations we manage. Since 1953 we have developed philosophies and procedures, which overtime have become standards for tour operators. Take the Galápagos example, for instance, where together with the first park wardens of the Galapagos National Park, we developed a system of interpretative trails, and led by trained Naturalists. Shortly, this experiment became an operational standard for all. Parallel to these new ventures, ETICA - Metropolitan Touring designed a floating hotel (flotel) in the headwaters of Ecuador's Amazonia: the Flotel Orellana, an icon in the operation of tourism in Ecuador’s rainforest. Amazonia followed the Galápagos example, and soon became successful too. Ecotourism had officially started in Ecuador.

As new tourism operations developed in Ecuador, and as world travellers became apprehensive about highly-impacted areas, the need of redesigning our philosophies became imminent. Thus, we achieved international certifications for our ships and hotel in the islands and with strict training programs for our staff gained respect and recognition. As early as 1998, we created Fundación Galápagos-Ecuador as our direct way of committing to the islands' protection, but this time involving the private sector. Then, all conservation-related efforts were in the hands of the Charles Darwin Research Station and National Park. Our concern was not just conservation per sé; we had to involve the community in understanding their islands and protecting them too. Additionally, we had to think about environmental impact by both locals and visitors, although there were no efforts in garbage collecting, recycling, etc, and nobody was talking about sustainable tourism or responsible tourism. Our conviction was clear and founded Fundación Galápagos-Ecuador. Its projects and actions are now models in the local industry, and a good number of tour operators have decided to join forces for the islands' well being. ETICA Metropolitan Touring proudly employs nearly 700 people in Ecuador.

ETICA - Metropolitan Touring – a leader in sustainability

ETICA Metropolitan Touring is a fully Ecuadorian company and the leading Travel Corporation in Ecuador, with additional in-bound tourism divisions in Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Our headquarters are based in Quito, Ecuador and operational support offices are found in Guayaquil, Riobamba, Cuenca, Galápagos Islands, Lima, Cuzco, Puno, Arequipa, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Córdoba. ETICA Metropolitan Touring holds a team of experts eager to boost responsible tourism in Latin America, and willing to share exciting and innovative destinations in South America’s most rewarding cities and unique natural areas. Our dedication to excellence in travel safety, commitment to earthly environments, and local cultures is unparalleled in the discovery business.

As a company working in environmentally and culturally-sensitive locations, our goal is to tread lightly and leave a positive impact in the communities we visit by restoring and improving natural and social realities. It may seem all our work focuses in the Galápagos Islands, but in reality, it applies to all we do as a company. Our budget holds an important cluster of resources committed to protection and conservation.

In Ecuador, we explore its Four Worlds: Galápagos, Amazonia, Pacific Coast, and Andes, and handle approximately 12,000 guests per year. Our operations in the Galápagos Islands, an area of about 150,000 Km2, National Park, Marine Reserve, World Heritage Site and part of Man & The Biosphere Program, include three ships: M/V Santa Cruz (90), Yacht Isabela II (40), Yacht La Pinta (48), and also Finch Bay Hotel (21 rooms & 6 suites) with its own yachts for day trips to islands nearby Yacht Sea Finch and Yacht Sea Lion. The Smart Voyager Certification motivates these facilities to apply best environmental practices.

ETICA METROPOLITAN TOURING’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

At ETICA Metropolitan Touring we view the environment as “the relationship between human beings and their natural and cultural surroundings. It is everything around us, where we walk, what we see, what we breathe, where we live, and where we work.”

ETICA Metropolitan Touring applies administration practices, operations and technologies oriented to the reduction of environmental impact. The development of new products is based on sustainability principles, preservation and social support. Our team members are encouraged to apply best environmental practices, both at home and also at work. We share our environmental practices with our guests and clients, and motivate them to actively participate in our initiatives. We continuously measure our environmental performance, and communicate our results.

In order to achieve our goals we have designed a company initiative that internally unfolds in six fields of work: Promote, Reduce, Execute, Motivate, Invest, and Optimize. An example of how our efforts have translated into successful stories can be seen at what we decided to establish back in 1998: Fundación Galápagos-Ecuador. This is the first-ever initiative by tourism's private sector for helping the islands protect its fragile ecosystems. Its mission started as, and continues to be, brown issues, human impact, and waste management of the islands, particularly Santa Cruz Island where most inhabitants reside. If we think of a rational way of acting upon current realities of the islands, it is the presence of humans that need the most attention, and it is that same group of humans that can turn things around and contribute positively to this unique environment. Ten years have passed by, and it is very rewarding to see how sustainability has gradually shaped the way people think and react to it. We now have a community much better prepared to face environmental challenges, and also worldwide attention to see how such actions can help other places in similar scenarios. Another successful side of this initiative has been the development of sinergies and energizing relationships. Working together with the Municipality of Santa Cruz, the Galápagos National Park, local schools, and community leaders, shows how coordinated efforts with the same triple-bottom line ideology can work together. In fact, these relationships are the ones generating sustainable benefits. For ETICA Metropolitan Touring, developing Fundación Galápagos-Ecuador has been a wonderful road to explore, where all new findings have benefited the community, the environment, and us as founders of such initiative. We are glad to see many guests, clients and friends of ours joining forces and becoming financial supporters of our work. We are also glad to see others have taken our work as an example to follow.

ETICA Metropolitan Touring’s Fundación Galápagos-Ecuador concentrates its efforts in four aspects:

• Environmental Education: volunteers conduct a local door-to-door campaign that teaches locals the benefits of classifying and recycling garbage. Local radio and TV campaigns are also common. Additionally, local students from elementary and high school levels are invited to join our expedition voyages for a better understanding of the islands' complex ecosystems. These experiences will give them a broad perspective of the archipelago’s importance, while providing them with solid background for making the right decisions. After all, those students will be in the near future the decision makers of the islands, and if they can have a broad understanding of the islands’ complexities, their decisions are likely to be made from a more realistic approach to what is very important and what is truly needed. In 2009 we took 66 students, and since 1998 we have taken a total of 192 local students on board our vessels.

• Solid-waste Recycling: on Santa Cruz Island, and in cooperation with the Municipality of Santa Cruz Island and the Galapagos National Park, we developed the Fabricio Valverde Center for managing solid waste. Back in the decade of the 1990’s the first efforts at recycling started in the most populated island of the archipelago. However, a more realistic approach was needed, and it was concluded that the community needed a key player that would steer all ideas and efforts in the direction needed. One of the first realities to face was that volcanic islands like the Galápagos, have a very thin layer of top soil, which means landfills store solid waste at very fast rates. The less waste is produced, the longer the lifespan of such areas. Thus, a recycling program was more than a need; it was the first logical step to take to assure potential environmental hazards would not happen. The early efforts were hard scenarios, but in the long run it paid off. Plastics and cardboard are compacted and shipped at the expense of Metropolitan Touring’s cargo vessel, the M/V San Cristóbal. These materials return to the mainland for reprocessing and remanufacturing. At the recycling center, glass is milled and then becomes material for making cement-patio blocks that now cover parks, sidewalks and private homes on the island. Each block holds between 15% - 20% milled glass. This whole process directly benefits members of the community, since the option of importing blocks from the mainland is overly expensive. Visitors also experience the benefits since some parks and sidewalks look aesthetically nice.

In 2009, a total of 3,913,226 pounds (1,778,739 Kg) of solid waste have been already recycled at our facility. These materials never went to the local landfill, and that alone is a monumental gain in environmental protection. As new challenges and opportunities unfold, we shall replicate this successful experience in other populated islands, particularly Isabela and San Cristóbal. Working together with other Municipalities will guarantee a solid presence within the community, and delivers a clear message of stewardship which in return sets a sense of pride in residents.

• Coastal Clean-Up: the shores of the islands become the ending trip for floating debris unfortunately discarded in the ocean hundreds of miles away. The coastal ecosystems of the Galápagos are home to many species of flora and fauna some found nowhere else on Earth. Thus, the coastal cleanup project directly benefits coastal ecosystems and its components. Mangroves, for example, retain most of floating plastics and get their sub-aerial roots wrapped in such debris. This prevents mangroves for dispersing effectively and grabbing onto rocky shorelines; mangroves are the feeding and nesting habitat including pelicans, mangrove finches, herons, and provide shade for other species. Sea lions can also be at risk from floating debris since their mammal curious behavior incites them to play with plastics, rubber o-rings, etc. Marine turtles feed on jelly fish and plastic bags in the water can look like potential food to them. This is how local species are affected by floating debris and how this project can directly protect them. With local fishermen and volunteers, we collect these materials and process them at the recycling facility. So far, over 105,000 pounds of solid debris have been collected from the islands' shores in a total of 105 coastal cleaning trips. As part of the project, fishermen receive an economic incentive, allowing them to periodically stop fishing activities, but connect them with natural resources protection. Every September we also lead local actions during the International Coastal Cleanup Day, and have become the only location where underwater cleanup is also managed. The event involves local community members in a volunteer basis.

• Galápagos Community Social Projects: For us, the social component is a priority in sustainability. Thus, it is important to get involved with the local community, and contribute to their well being and their income generation. If we believe in the community’s improvement, we must incorporate them in our business scenario. We developed two local projects that provide sustainable future for the community.

First, it is the FUN Galapagos, involving a local women’s cooperative: Manos Mágicas. Women with great sewing skills, and motivated to improve their own quality of life, make Galapagos'-related rag souvenirs filled with milled plastics from our recycling center. Sales of these support the project itself.

Second, the “Bread for the Future” project, where a local bakery belonging to fishermen’s wives called Perla del Pacífico, produces local bread. Our direct contribution to the project is by purchasing all bread needs from them. Now, our ships serve Galapagos bread including brioche, ciabatta, rolls, baguette, and more. This initiative was launched by ASOGAL, the Association of Galápagos Tour Operators.

Naturally, we address sustainability matters to our guests on board. We share our contributions with them, the islands’ realities, and a clear message on how it works. It is critical that visitors to the islands realize tourism is responsible for generating some impact, but this is being carefully managed, and it unfolds into a positive contribution. This alone will make them aware their travel choice has made a difference.

Awards & Recognitions

Our efforts and actions have been recognized at very specific forums:

• 2008 & 2009 ETICA Metropolitan Touring is selected as an Ecuadorian Company matching the criteria of “Great Place to Work” standards.
• 2008 & 2009 WTM – World Travel Market recognizes ETICA Metropolitan Touring as a supporter of World Responsible Tourism Day
• 2008 Condé Nast awards ETICA Metropolitan Touring as one of 38 companies in the 2008 World Savers Awards in the Category of Wildlife Conservation
• 2008 Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador recognizes ETICA Metropolitan Touring with an Achievement Award in the Development of Sustainable Tourism
• 2008 & 2009 LATA the Latin American Tour Operators Association awards ETICA Metropolitan Touring of Ecuador as Best Ground Operator in Latin America
• 2009 ETICA Metropolitan Touring achieves Finalist nomination in WTTC’s - World Travel & Tourism Council- Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in the Category of Global Tourism Business.
• 2009 ETICA Metropolitan Touring is chosen as Case Study in Sustainable Tourism by WTTC.
• 2009 LATA the Latin American Tour Operators Association awards ETICA Metropolitan Touring of Ecuador’s Yacht La Pinta as Best Expedition Vessel in Latin America

While we still have a lot to accomplish in the long road toward sustainability, we strongly believe we are headed in the right direction. These recognitions show we are actively setting new standards in Ecuador's Tourism industry, and we are honored to lead the way, motivate others, and continue researching into new ventures.

Revised Kiosk Presentation

As we totally missed the boat the first time around, here is our revised "kiosk" presentation. Based on the article Landfill Biogas for heating Greenhouses and providing Carbon Dioxide

Supplement for Plant Growth published in the journal Biosystems Engineering.

SOLAR CITIES

I just found a non-profit group called Solar CITIES which has some great info on biogas and coverting biogas to a different form of energy.  They have a great blog complete with photos, articles and videos we can use for our presentation.  Check out: http://solarcities.blogspot.com/2009/09/generating-electricity-from-biogas-made.html

The Southern California Gas Company has a website describing some of their "Greener" technologies and one of them is the conversion of biogas to biomethane - with a diagram to match... http://www.socalgas.com/environment/biogas2.html

Shared Borders

Another theme of this article is the potential for beauty and productivity to share a border with something unsightly. In the case of the article, greenhouses (growing flowers :D) are right next to solid waste landfills which contain some of the nastiest forms of human detritus. Not only are the greenhouses able to exist there, they are actually thriving. This not only produces some nice flowers, it also shows the potential for marginal spaces (such as next to landfills or industrial areas) to be productive and visually arresting (if not always appealing). These visuals are from Baltimore, where a new park is under construction. Mounds of solid waste are being covered over and converted into "mountain peaks," which will provide spectacular views of the bay and Baltimore skyline.

-Nick

BBC World Challenge

A documentary series done by BBC, "World Challenge," is about innovative sustainable practices already in place in various world communities. The series contains many parallels to the article we have chosen to analyze.

Several of the series involve the use of waste to create energy, similarly to the experiment discussed in the article. The great thing about these documentaries is that they contain many examples of small-scale projects, potentially applicable to the Galapagos community. For example, one family uses biogas from their cows' manure to light their stoves. There are also larger-scale applications, such as the heating of prisons and schools by means of biogas and even the converting of sewage to electricity.

BBC has studied about 50 projects and businesses since starting this series 5 or 6 years ago. Below are three examples of "World Challenge" that parallel the idea of the project discussed in our article.

World Challenge: Biogas Waste Management:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v83PpKiVf-g

World Challenge: Nothing Wasted Composting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jO-YSHC8tc&feature=related

Urban Agriculture: Making use of Marginal Spaces

These 3 images speak to one of the themes of the article: making use of marginal spaces. In the article waste gas is being used to heat and modify the atmosphere in greenhouses. In these photos, we see urban agriculture taking place. These programs can take place on rooftops, or in spaces which may have previously been filled with trash or left totally unused. This sort of ingenuity is in keeping with the spirit of our class and conveys the sort of potential our article espouses: waste not, want not. If we hope to reduce our impact on the planet that we live on, thinking outside the box and taking a creative tack towards problems such as waste management will be a requirement.

Science Article Overview

Here is a short overview of the article we talked our group read: Landfill Biogas for heating Greenhouses and providing Carbon Dioxide Supplement for Plant Growth.

Normally, biogas which is produced by the decomposition of solid waste is burned onsite at landfills to get rid of the potentially toxic components. It is possible however, that this biogas could be used as a fuel for heating, as well as a source of injectable gas for horticultural greenhouses. This paper describes a full scale experiment of this idea which took place in France.

The experiment involved converting a commercial boiler to biogas, and purifying biogas from a landfill to remove toxic residues. The purified gasses were injected into greenhouses containing rose crops, while a control greenhouse was kept at normal atmospheric conditions. The heat generated from the boiler was used a means of maintaining the temperature in the greenhouse during the cold season and at night, such that growing conditions were optimal.

During a 24 month period, it was found that crop yields and rose quality rose dramatically in the experimental greenhouse. The study underlines the potential for the use of potential greenhouse gasses, as well as their reduction in the atmosphere, as well as the potential for increased greenhouse crop yield in areas adjacent to solid waste landfills previously thought of as undesirable.

Compost heat exchange

While this is not a media piece, it is an interesting article off of a how-to website that relates to the article we have chosen to analyze.

This step-by-step process shows how an individual can take advantage of the heat created by composting material and use it in their own personal heating. It may be difficult to apply this to a tropical community, as they will have little or no need for heating. It would be interesting to see whether or not the islands actually have any need at all for greenhouses as well. If they do, this small-scale project listed below may be a more beneficial process than that discussed in the article regarding landfills.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2316119_build-compost-heat-exchange-system.html

Reworking of the final paper

Hey guys,
here's my part of the reworking of the policy analysis. I made some changes mainly in the first paragraph. Feel free to edit it anymore.
Christina

Our project seeks to examine the existing waste management infrastructure, with a specific focus on plastic waste. We aim to study the life cycle of plastic materials used on the islands, starting when they are shipped in from mainland Ecuador, including their usage on the islands and eventually their disposal off island. We plan to do this by presenting an investigative product that we hope will prompt action. The final product will interview politicians, conservation workers, as well as typical Galapaguenos in order to shed light on existing policies and examine which places of intervention in the plastic disposal system are most effective. A review of existing programs on the islands would be a part of our project, including governmental policy and the actions of important actors such as tour operators and citizens. In particular, we are looking at the existing recycling programs on the islands. Plastic materials on the islands are classified and ground. The product is then shipped to the mainland and sold to a company that specializes in recycled material. We are focusing on this system and the policies that protect and establish this as an effective recycling program. The project would also hope to uncover unauthorized dumping spots on the islands, as there are not any sanctioned dumping points on the islands.

These issues are important because the health of the island ecosystems depend largely on effective waste management and disposal. An in-depth study of plastic, which has the potential to be extremely disruptive to fragile ecosystems such as the Galapagos, can help in the development of solutions which benefit both man and nature. In addition to providing solutions to the Galapagos, it is hoped that this project will provide a useful example which can be applied similar situations in the future.